Bus heating system



1933- L. P. HYNES BUS HEATING SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1926 INVENTOR LEE P. HYNES BY ATTORNEY W Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES ,BUS HEATING SYSTEM Lee P. Hynes, Albany, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Consolidated Car-Heating Company, Inc., Albany, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 24, 1926 Serial No. 156,897

8 Claims.

For a detailed description of the present form of my invention, reference may be had to the following specification and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein my invention is shown diagrammatically.

My invention relates to the heating of busses or cars driven by oil or gasoline engines, including busses driven directly bysuch an engine or rail cars driven by such an engine through the medium of an electric generator-motor transmission system. In these vehicles the problem is to utilize the surplus heat of the engine itself together with a minor or secondary source of heat which is available on occasions when the engine heat is not being produced or is inadequate.

My present invention consists of an organ-,

ization by which such heating is provided in an adequate manner with a minimum of workingv parts. Referring to the drawing, A represents the propelling motor which may be of any kind pro-- ducing a surplus amount of heat which is concentrated in the exhaust pipe C and the Waterjacket A The engine may propel the vehicle either directly through gearing, or indirectly through an electric generator B which is driven by the motor and, in a manner which requires no illustration, delivers current to suitable electric motors that propel the vehicle. My invention is only concerned with the exhaust pipe C and the water-jacket A which are the chief and normal sources of heat utilized in my system. K represents a water-jacket surrounding exhaust pipe C and A is the usual water-jacket of the engine itself. D is a single pump for circulating water through both K and A Preferably the engine A will occupy a special compartment in the vehicle body with its exhaust pipe C passing up to the atmosphere through an attic compartment Z under the car roof. The pump D produces circulation through a water-pipe system which serves both for cooling the engine and for heating the car oody. This pump, when in action, forces water from the suction side of the pipe system through the water-jacket A of the engine and then through two distributing pipe systems or circulatory branches which may, for convenience of description, be called the primary and secondary systems. The chief purpose or" the primary one is to heat the body of the vehicle, while the chief purpose of the secondary one is to control the cooling of the motor. The primary system consists of the engine water jacket A, supplied by the pump D, and connected with the water jacket K (surrounding exhaust pipe C), by means of a short pipe governed by stop cock L. Connected with and leading from the top of the jacket K is a pipe M, having a downward branch M leading through a supplementary heater U, and connected with the return pipe R, which is also connected with the suction side Y of the aforesaid pump D. At the top of the pipe-loop thus formed a pipe N leads up to a thermally operatedtrap O at the car roof. This trap which is conventionally shown, may be of any suitable structure well known in the art, and in operation is normally open, but will close automatically, in a well known manner, at a certain high temperature, as when steam reaches it. A by-pass pipe S, S S leads from the bot--' 7o tom of jacket K over a route parallel to pipe M, M to the radiator Q and also has an upgoing branch open to the atmosphere at T, whereby this by-pass loop will not be air-trapped. The secondary pipe system includes the pump D, and the engine water jacket A, which is connected by pipe E, to radiator F in'said attic 'compartment Z and connected'by return pipe H, H to special heaterW and the suction side of pump D. Said pipe H is connected to a reservoir tank G which is also connected by a contracted pipe J to the aforesaid up-going pipe E. Thissecondary system has a filling pipe P at its topand the attic Z is provided with a fan X which sucks in outside air, through the front shutters X over the radiator F and ejects it through the car roof. By this arrangement, that portion of the circulating water which passes through the secondary system may be separately cooled to any desireddegree by radiator F and the air current of fan X, while the remaining portion of the totalwater volumeis passed through jacket K, where it is additionally heated and then serves to heat the car body by means of radiator Q. The water level in the two systems, when pump D is not acting, is' set at the tank G by filling it .irough pipe P till the level shows on gauge G The system is not necessarily a sealed one,.and the outlets at T, P and 0 maybe open to the atmosphere, though not to an extentthat will -low material evaporation of the water, or of any anti-freezing substance therein. In practies, the outlet of pipe N should be sealed against pressure whenever steam isin loop M, M and for that purpose is closed by the trap O as above described. For purposes of illustration the aforesaid pipe loops of the primary system are shown as placed on the respective sides and top of a doorway V 7 The operation of "the-system as thus fardescribed is as follows: If no heat in the car body is desired, the valve L is merely shut off. Then whatever water is in jacket K will become heated, if the car continues to operate, but any circulation of this water will be merely thermal and local within pipes M, M and 5, S S without passing into radiator Q which may also be provided with a shut-off valve, if desired. If such local heating becomes great enough to generate steam, then trap 0 will close and the steam pressure will expel the water from the heatboosting branch of the said local circuit more or less completely and force it through pipes S, S S which at that time are performing no heating functions. This will automatically reduce the heating to some point of equilibrium with no other effect than toslightly raise the level of the water in tank G. If heat in the car body is desired, it will only be necessary to open valve L. Then the water will be circulated by the pump D from valve L through the two parallel routes, viz., S, S S and jacket K, pipes M, M and thence to the radiator Q, the water in the branch which includes-said pipes M, M having its tem perature boosted by the jacket K. But such boosted heat willbe automatically limited in the way I have described by the closing of trap O and the expulsion by steam pressure of the water from the heat-boosting branch. It will not, however, prevent continued circulation of the less heated water through pipes S, S S by pump D, the pipe P serving to relieve any excess pressure in the secondary pipe system due to expulsion of water from the primary system.

In the secondary or cooling branch the water from jacket A will, while the motor is operating and driving pump D, pass upward through pipe E to radiator F and there be suitably cooled by the air current of fan X. The contracted pipe J is so small with respect to the capacity of the pump that the water in pipe E will rise above the level of tank G into the radiator F. When, however, the motor and pump D are stopped, the water will drop down to its normal level in tank G, thereby automatically emptying radiator F and so preventing its freezing.

I now call attention to the supplementary heatersU and W. The former is in the primary or car-heating system, the latter in the secondary or motor-cooling system. These are chiefly for use when the car isto stand for a considerable time with the motor stopped. They may be of any desired type. They may have burners supplied with oil or gasoline as fuel, or they may be steam heaters supplied from steam. pipes in the car barn or along the track. In. the present case I show them as electric heaters provided with socket terminalsto receive current from plugs U and W which may lead to any available source of current. It will be observed, however, that the primary and secondary pipe systems aforesaid are provided with individual heaters and also that the circulation induced by each is thermal as distinguished from the forced circulation induced by pump D, and is in a direction opposite thereto. The direction of this thermal circulation is indicated in the drawing by dotted arrows, that of the pump circulation by fullline arrows. It is also to be understood that the pump D when stopped still permits an adequate circulation through it of the thermal currents. The valve L should be left open at this time. The thermal circulation, caused by the difference in gravity between hot and cold water, is much feebler than that produced by the pump.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a heating system of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a water jacket and an exhaust pipe, of two branching pipe systems having a common connection with said water jacket, so as to be supplied with water therefrom, a cooling system for the engine including said jacket, one of said. branch pipe systems and a cooling radiator connected therewith, a heating radiator connected with the other branch pipe system, means associated with the exhaust pipe of the engine for additionally heating the water entering the last mentioned branch pipe system, so that. the. heating radiator receives additionally heated water therethrough, a valve controlling flow of water from said water jacket to the last mentioned branch pipe system, and means connected with saidlast mentioned branch pipe system for by-passing the additional heating means, said by-pass means, and that part of the branching pipe system which it by-passes together with.

said additional heating means being so constructed and arranged that a. local circulation therethrough is maintained while said valve is closed.

2. In a heating system of the character described, the combination with an internal combustion engine having a water jacket and an exhaust pipe, of two branching pipe systems having a common connection with said water jacket, so as to be supplied with water therefrom, a cooling system for the engine including said jacket, one of said branch pipe systems and a cooling radiator connected therewith, a heating radiator connected with the other branch pipe system, means associated with the exhaust pipe of the engine. for additionally heating the water entering the last mentioned branch pipe system, so that the last mentioned radiator receives additionally heated water therethrough, a valve controlling flow of water from said water jacket to the last mentioned branch pipe system, a bypass pipe system connected at both ends with said last mentioned branch pipe system at positions between the radiator and said common connection and by-passing said additional heating means, and means for normally venting said bypass pipe system.

3. In a water heater of the character described, a water jacket, a source of water supply connected to said jacket, means for heating the water jacket, a pipe system connected with said water jacket, means controlling flow of water from said source of supply to said water jacket, 2. heating radiator connected with said pipe system, a by-pass conduit having its ends connected with the pipe system at positions between the radiator and said control means and by-passing said water jacket, said pipe system, said by-pass conduit,

and said water jacket being so constructed and arranged that while flow of water to the water jacket is prevented a local circulation will be set up between the branch pipe system and said bypass conduit and through said water jacket, and vent control means for said pipe system constructed and arranged to close upon generation of steam therein, the arrangement of said vent and branch pipe system being such that a portion of the water in said branch pipe system will be expelled therefrom by the pressure of said steam.

4. In a heating system of the character described, a circulatory branch including a radiator and water heating means, a second circulatory branch having its ends connected with the first mentioned branch and by-passing the heating means, an elevated supply tank connected with the first branch so as to maintain water therein by gravity, and a thermostatic trap at an elevation above that of the supply tank forventing the first mentioned branch, said trap being constructed and arranged to close upon generation of steam within said branch, the arrangement of the first mentioned branch being such that while the trap is closed a portion of the water in the said first mentioned circulatory branch will be expelled therefrom by the steam pressure I generated therein.

5. In a car heating system, an internal combustion engine having a water jacket, a branching pipe system including a heating radiator and means for additionally heating water passing to said radiator, a second branching pipe system including means for cooling the water, therein means providing a common connection between the branch pipe systems and said water jacket, a water supply tank connected to the second branching pipe system, a thermostatic trap connected with the first branching pipe system, said trap being so constructed and so arranged relatively to its branching pipe system as to normally vent its branching pipe system but to close the vent upon generation of steam therein, the arrangement of said first branching pipe system being such that a portion of the water in said additional water heating means will be expelled therefrom by the pressure of said steam, and means connecting the second branching pipe sys tem with said tank.

6. In a heating system of the character de scribed, a water heating means, a branch pipe system including a heating radiator, a second branch pipe system including means for cooling the water therein, means providing a common connection between both branch pipe systems and said water heating means, a supplemental water heating means included within the first mentioned branch pipe system at a position between the first mentioned heating means and the heating radiator, a water supply tank, a circulatory pump connected for delivery to the first mentioned water heating means and arranged to draw water from both branch pipe systems, by-pass conduit connected at both ends with the first mentioned branch pipe systern and so connected as to by-pass said supplemental heating means, a temperature responsive trap connected with the first mentioned branch pipe system and constructed and so arranged relative to its branch pipe system as to normally vent its branch pipe system but to close the vent upon generation of steam therein, the arrangement of the first branch pipe system being such that a portion of the water in the first mentioned branch pipe system will be expelled by the pressure of said steam, separate supplemental heaters in each of the two branch pipe systems, and means connecting the second branch pipe system with said tank.

7. In a heating system of the character described, an internal combustion engine having a water jacket, a branch pipe system connected with said water jacket and including a heating radiator, a second branch pipe system also connected with said water jacket and including means for cooling the water passing therethrough, a water supply tank, a circulating pump connected for delivery to said water jacket and arranged to draw water from both or" said branch pipe systems, means providing a connection between said branch pipe systems and said water jacket, means located between said common connection and said heating radiator and included in the first mentioned branch pipe system for additionally heating water passing to said heating radiator, by-passing means connected to the first mentioned branch pipe system at positions to by-pass said additional heating means, a valve controlling the flow of water through the first mentioned branch pipe system, said by-pass conduit, said valve, and said first mentioned branch pipe system with its additional heating means being constructed and arranged to provide a local thermal circulation while said valve is closed, means for normally venting the first mentioned branch pipe system, said venting means con-' structed and so arranged relative to its branch pipe systemas to close the vent upon generation of steam within the branch pipe system, the arrangement of said first branch pipe system being such that a portion of the water in the first branch pipe system will be expelled therefrom by the pressure of said steam, and means connecting the second branch pipe system with said tank. 8. In a water heating system of the character described, an internal combustion engine provided with a water jacket, a branch pipe'system including a heating radiator, a second branch pipe system including a cooling radiator, means providing a common connection between said branch pipe systems and said water jacket, additional water heating means included in the first mentioned branch pipe system and located between said common connection and said heating radiator, a valve controlling the flow of water from said common connection to the first mentioned branch pipe system, -a by-pass conduit paralleling the first mentioned branch pipe system and connected at both ends thereto at positions to by-pass said additional water heating means, the arrangement of said first branch pipe system, additional heating means and bypass conduit being such that while said valve is closed a local thermal circulation is maintained in the first mentioned branch pipe system and said by-pass conduit connected thereto, means for normally venting the first branch pipe system, said venting means being constructed and arranged to close upon generation of steam within the branch pipe system, the arrangement of the first branch pipe system being such that a portion of the water in said first mentioned branch pipe system will be expelled therefrom by the pressure of said steam into the other branch pipe system, means for relieving the last mentioned branch pipe system of pressure due to the expulsion of water from the other branch pipe system, and a source of water supply for the entire heating system.

- LEE P. HYNES. 

